Daryl Washington arrested on suspicion of assault

CRAIGMORGAN

FS Arizona

Cardinals linebacker
Daryl Washington was arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault Friday. He was booked into jail on two counts of aggravated assault, and released after an initial court appearance and posting a $4,200 bond.

Phoenix police announced Thursday morning that they were seeking Washington after the mother of his child called Wednesday saying she had been assaulted by Washington, according to the Phoenix Police Department.

According to court filings, the woman told police that Washington pushed her, causing her to fall and break her collarbone. She also accused Washington of grabbing her around the neck and pushing her against a railing, the documents said.

Following the arrest, Washington released a statement that read: "This is a legal matter, and I am limited in what I can say other than that my lawyer and I will continue to cooperate with investigators and welcome the opportunity for all the facts to be presented. I regret that the situation has brought this kind of attention to my family and my team. I look forward to resolving it as soon as possible."

The Cardinals have not commented on the arrest but released a statement Thursday, after news of the investigation broke, saying: "These are serious accusations that we are closely monitoring. Until all the facts are determined, and out of respect for the process, we will decline any further comment at this point."

Washington, 26, has been suspended for the first four games of the 2013 season for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.

This is not Washington’s first run-in with the law. When he was 17, he received probation for another incident in which he and a group of friends were involved in a fight and stole money from the lone victim.

Washington signed a six-year, $32.5 million deal in September that runs through the 2017 season. He started every game last season and had 134 tackles, nine sacks and two forced fumbles while earning his first invitation to the Pro Bowl. He led the team in tackles and sacks.

The NFL declined comment until the legal process has played out, but Commissioner Roger Goodell has wide latitude in disciplining players who violate the league's policies on conduct. Those penalties include fines, suspension and even expulsion from the league. Players who are suspended often have to meet certain conditions before reinstatement.